As charming a town as Mystic is, an escape to sprawling embrace of nature can still feel necessary. This weekend I enjoyed a beautiful mini hike with my future husband and my pup to Barn Island, a short drive less than twenty minutes from central Mystic. With the leaves changing and the sun shining even brighter than usual, it was such a pleasant way to spend an autumn afternoon.

The 1,013-acre Barn Island Wildlife Management Area is Connecticut’s largest coastal property managed for wildlife conservation. The property provides a diversity of ecosystem and habitats including hilly uplands, agricultural/open fields, mixed hardwood forests and salt, brackish and freshwater tidal wetlands.

The trail is a 5.3 mile loop that would take around 3 1/2 hours to complete, but we just walked a ways before turning around and heading back. We didn’t bring our mountain bikes, but it looked like a great trail for bikers. Our pup loved the walk, and we saw a few bird watchers and fishermen on our trek.

Going to Barn Island was a magnificent, free way to get outdoors and enjoy the fall weather!

Directions:

From the West: Take I-95 North to exit 91. Right off exit ramp. From the East: I-95 exit 91. Left off exit ramp. Then right onto Route 234 / Pequot Trail. Short distance (~.25 miles) left onto North Main Street (follow sign to Stonington Borough) to intersection with Route 1 / Stonington-Westerly Road. Turn left onto Route 1 / Stonington-Westerly Road. Right onto Greenhaven Road after crossing Wequetequock Cove then quick right onto Palmer Neck Road for 1.4 miles to parking area before boat launch area. Trail entrance on left.